Educational device



F. A. RODDY.

EDUCATIONAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21, 1920.

1,385,096. Pateflted July 19,1921.

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F. A. RODDY. EDUCATIONAL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21, 1920.

1 mm July 19,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- FRANCES ATYRES RODDY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EDUCATIONAL DEVICE.

To all fil /L077? it may concern: 4

to it known that I, FiniNonsAYnns Room, a citizen of thellnited States, and resident of the borough of lilanhattanpcity, county, and State of New York, have invented certain newand useful lmprovementsin Educational Devices, of which the following is a specification. V

My invention relates to educational devices and has'for its object to provide a device of novel construction and arrange ment whereby knowledge of elementary charrmteristics may be imparted to children in a simple and interesting manner. 11y invention contemplates aconstruction which may be readily set up for use and which may be easily and compactly folded when not in use. Other more specific objects of my invention will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be bointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an example of my invention without defining its limits, Figures 1 and 2 are side and front views respectively of the device in a folded condition; Figs. 3 and i are similar views respectively, showing the device in an unfolded position ready for use; and Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive illustrate examples of the members 01' blocks which constitute a part of the device.

As shown in the illustrated example, the device is constructed in the form of a foldable frame or ladder consisting of two sec tions .10 and 11 hinged together at 12 and provided with a prop 18 of suitable form and construction hinged at 14: to the section 10 whereby the ladder is supported in an operative position, preferably inclined, as shown in Figs. 8 and l. One or more, and preferably a pair of latches 15, may be inclnded in the construction for fixing the sections 10 and 11 in their unfolded operative positions. A plurality of rungs 16, preferably though not necessarily of cylindrical cross-section, are mounted upon the sections 10 and 11 in spaced, parallel relation and so as to be removable at will,'any convenient means being provided for maintaining the rungs 16 against unintentional removal from the sections 10 and 11 or frictional engagement of the parts alone being relied upon to prevent the same. The sections 10 and 11 comprise jointed side members and the rungs 16, or some of them, constitute transverse members which cooperate with said side Specification of Letters Patent." Patented Julv 19 1921,

Application filed October 21, 1920'. Serial No. 418,439.

members to hold the same in spaced relation to each other. To facilitate manipulation, the rungs 16 may be made of suilicient length to project beyond either onevor both side members of the sections 10 and 11, for in stance, as illustrated in the drawings. The device comprises further a plurality of preferably cubical blocks or members 17 having apertures 18 extending therethrough, where by said blocks or members are adapted for mounting upon the rungs 16. Those faces of the cubical blocks 17 which extend parallel'to the apertures 18 are provided with letters of the alphabet, numerals, pictorial representations of various kinds, such, for instance, as are commonly associatedwith well known nursery rhymes 'or any other devices or designations, all of which may be produced upon said surfaces in any coni enient and well known way. The blocks or members 17, when mounted or strung upon the rungs 16 are slidable lengthwise thereof and rotatable thereon, but preferably engagesaid rungs with suhicient friction to remain fixed in any position to which they may be adjusted.

In utilizing the device it is brought from the folded position shown in Figs. '1 and 2 to the unfolded position illustrated in Figs.

3 and t and set up, as shown, in any convenient location so as to be within easy reach. The device may be used for teaching the letters of the alphabet and numerals, for

constructing sentences, for word buildin for familiarizing the child with the we'l known nursery rhymes and for dissected pictures. That is to say, the blocks 17 may be strun ormount-ed upon the rungs 16 either individually or collectively to provide any desired combination of letters, numerals or pictorial groups. For instance, as shown in Fig. 4, three blocks 17, with letters of the alphabet thereon, may be arranged in horizontal sequence upon a rung -16 to spell the word cat; similarly three in proper sequence; groups of numerals ma be formed in the same way, The blocks 1 may be also arranged in pictorial groups; for instance, blocks portraying various :types of soldiers may be arranged as in Fig. 6, while the representation of a locomotive and train of cars may be set up by arranging the propel-blocks as in Fig. 7. The well known nursery rhymes may be visualized by stringing the proper blocks 17 upon a rung 16, for

' instance, as'illu'strated in Fig. 8 and likewise various other combinations may be effected in a manner which is interesting to the child and which conveys the knowledge in a simple manner easy to understand, the device being capable of use by the children themselves as a toy.

The invention provides an educational device of a maximum degree of usefulness in kindergartens and elementary schools and is particularly adapted for use by children as an educational toy. Byconstructing the device as shown it maybe folded compactly when not in use and thus readily stored in a small space.

Various changes in the specific form shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. An educational device in the form of a toy for small children comprising two sections foldably connected and adapted to be adjusted to an extended position to form continuations of each other, a plurality of rungs remova'bly mounted upon said sections and located at spaced intervalslength.- wise thereof, apertured members having designations produced thereon and adapted to be strung upon said plurality of rungs, said apertured members being adjustable on said plurality of rungs to groupsaid'designations in predetermined combinations and a toy 5301' small children comprising parallel, side members, transverse members cooperating with said side members to hold the same in spaced relation with each other, said side members being jointed, and, in conjunction with said transverse members, constituting foldable sections adapted to be adjusted to an extended position to form continuat'ions of each other, said transverse members comprising a plurality of rungs removably connected with said side members and located at spaced intervals lengthwise thereof and apertured blocks liavin designations produced thereon and adaptec to be strung upon said rungs, said apertured blocks being adjustable on said rungs to group said designations in predetermined combinations.

3. An educational ladder in the form of a toy for small children comprising parallel and spaced side members, each consisting of two sections hinged together and adapted to "be adjusted to extended positions to form extensions of each other, a latch whereby the sections of said'side members are fixed in their extended positions, a plurality of rungs removably connected with said side members and located at spaced intervals lengthwise thereof, apertured cubical blocks having designations produced'on the faces thereof and adapted .to be strun upon said rungs, said blocksbeing adjustab e upon said rungs to group said designations in predetermined combinations and a prop pivotally connected with said side members for maintaining the extended ladder in an upright, inclined position.

{In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANCES AY'R'ES RODDY. 

